asteroid belt

American  

[as-tuh-roid belt] / ˈæs təˌrɔɪd ˌbɛlt /

noun

Astronomy.

1. the region in space between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, containing the greatest population of asteroids in our solar system: comprising about half the mass of the asteroid belt are its four largest asteroids, namely, Ceres, Pallas, Vesta, and Hygieia.

---

asteroid belt Cultural  

1. A region of the solar system between the orbits of the planets Mars and Jupiter. Most asteroids are found in the asteroid belt.

---

Etymology

Origin of asteroid belt

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

With Mars now behind it, Psyche will resume using its solar-electric propulsion system to continue toward the asteroid belt.

From Science Daily • May 26, 2026

NASA’s Amit Kshatriya, the man behind Artemis, on the race with China to reach Mars, the asteroid belt and Jupiter’s moons.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026

Its surface would lie even further from the asteroid belt, meaning all of us including planet Mars would be in the belly of the red beast.

From Space Scoop • Aug. 20, 2025

The asteroid, which scientists refer to as 2024 PT5, hails from the Arjuna asteroid belt, which contains rocks that follow an orbit quite similar to Earth’s.

From BBC • Sep. 25, 2024

We’d huddle together in a shuttle constructed out of chairs and bedsheets, and in T minus ten we’d blast off into space, visit the moon, Mars, the asteroid belt and beyond.

From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas